US20200058919A1 - Rechargeable battery - Google Patents
Rechargeable battery Download PDFInfo
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- US20200058919A1 US20200058919A1 US16/343,674 US201716343674A US2020058919A1 US 20200058919 A1 US20200058919 A1 US 20200058919A1 US 201716343674 A US201716343674 A US 201716343674A US 2020058919 A1 US2020058919 A1 US 2020058919A1
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- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/50—Current conducting connections for cells or batteries
- H01M50/572—Means for preventing undesired use or discharge
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- H01M2/345—
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
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- H—ELECTRICITY
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- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
- H01M50/10—Primary casings; Jackets or wrappings
- H01M50/147—Lids or covers
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- H01M50/174—Arrangements of electric connectors penetrating the casing adapted for the shape of the cells
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- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
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- H01M50/00—Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the non-active parts of electrochemical cells other than fuel cells, e.g. hybrid cells
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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- Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
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Definitions
- the present invention relates to a rechargeable battery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rechargeable battery in which an overcharge safety device is activated in an overcharge state in an internal space of a cell.
- a rechargeable battery is a battery that repeatedly performs charging and discharging, differently from a primary battery.
- a rechargeable battery with small capacity is used in a small portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, and a camcorder, and a rechargeable battery with large capacity may be used as a motor driving power source for a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle.
- rechargeable batteries include an electrode assembly for charging and discharging, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution, a cap plate coupled to the opening of the case, and an electrode terminal that electrically connects the electrode assembly to draw out the electrode assembly to the outside of the cap plate.
- the rechargeable battery includes an overcharge safety device for overcharge control.
- the overcharge safety device includes a short-circuit tab and a short-circuit member that is separated or short-circuited according to an internal pressure.
- the short-circuit tab is electrically connected to a negative electrode, and the short-circuit member is electrically connected to a positive electrode.
- the short-circuit member When a cell is overcharged, the short-circuit member is inverted and thus contact the short-circuit tab, thereby causing discharge of a current charged in the electrode assembly.
- an inversion shape of the short-circuit member may not be constant. Accordingly, contact area scatter occurs from a contact surface of the short-circuit member and the short-circuit tab, thereby causing generation of resistance scatter from the contact surface. That is, the overcharge safety device cannot effectively control overcharge of the rechargeable battery, thereby generating quality scatter.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been made in an effort to provide a rechargeable battery that can block a current of a cell without causing quality scatter by removing operating scatter of the overcharge safety device upon occurrence of overcharge in the cell.
- an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery that includes an overcharge safety device that is not influenced by a cell manufacturing process and does not cause operating scatter.
- An overcharge safety device includes: an electrode assembly in which a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed at opposite sides of a separator; a case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated; a cap plate that is combined to an opening of the case; a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal that are provided in terminal holes of the cap plate and respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and an overcharge safety device in which a first free end and a second free end of a first short-circuit member and a second short-circuit member that are respectively connected to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal in the cap plane are disposed apart from each other and received in a tube.
- the overcharge safety device may further include holders that seal a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion at predetermined locations from the first free end and the second free end in the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member that are combined to opposite ends of the tube and extend to the inside of the tube.
- the tube may be provided as a compression tube that contracts by an internal pressure increase due to a gas generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- the tube may be provided as a heat-shrink tube that contracts by an internal heat increase generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- the tube may be provided as a compression/heat-shrink tube that contracts by an internal pressure increase and an internal heat increase due to a gas generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member may extend to a predetermined length with a width and a thickness.
- the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member may be bent between the holder and the first electrode terminal and between the holder and the second electrode terminal, and may be connected to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal through a wide area of a first connection end portion and a wide area of a second connection end portion.
- the first free end and the second free end may be disposed opposing each other at a distance from each other in a direction that crosses a plane of the cap plate in the case, and the first connection end portion and the second connection end portion may be connected with the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal in a surface-contact manner in a width direction of the cap plate in the case.
- first free end and the second free end that are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact each other may have the same width as a fixing width of the first fixing portion and a fixing width of the second fixing portion that are fixed to the holders.
- the first free end and the second free end that are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact each other may have a first width W 1 that is larger than a second width W 2 of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion fixed to the holders.
- the first free end and the second free end may surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length and the first width.
- the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be fixed to the holders with the second width.
- the first free end and the second free end may curve-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length and the first width.
- the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be connected as planes to the first free end and the second free end, which are curved, and fixed to the holders with the second width.
- the second electrode terminal may be connected to an uncoated region tab of the second electrode through an inner side end thereof and is connected to the second short-circuit member at an upper portion of the uncoated region tab, and the second electrode terminal may further include a fuse that is formed between the uncoated region tab and the second short-circuit member.
- the overcharge safety device formed inside the tube that contracts the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member which are separated from each other is provided inside the cap plate, and thus operating scatter of the overcharge safety device can be removed and a current of a cell can be blocked without quality scatter upon overcharge.
- the overcharge safety device can be separately manufactured from the cell and is connected with the first and second electrode terminals inside the cap plate, and thus the device is not influenced by a manufacturing process of the cell, and a current of the cell can be blocked without causing operating scatter upon overcharge.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line III-III.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electrode assembly applied to FIG. 3 .
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view in a state that an electrode terminal and an overcharge safety device are connected to the electrode assembly of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 , taken along the line VIII-VIII.
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an overcharge safety device of FIG. 8 , in an activated state.
- FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 , taken along the line X-X.
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a second exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 11 .
- FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 , taken along the line XIII-XIII.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 14 .
- FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14 , taken along the line XVI-XVI.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 1 , taken along the line III-IIII.
- a rechargeable battery includes an electrode assembly 10 that charges and discharges a current, a case 30 in which the electrode assembly 10 and an electrolyte solution are embedded, a cap plate 40 that is combined to an opening 31 of the case 30 to close and seal the opening 31 , first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 that are electrically connected to the electrode assembly 10 and thus installed in the cap plate 40 , and an overcharge safety device 20 that is activated when there is an overcharge.
- the rechargeable battery may further include a top insulator that is formed of an electric insulating material.
- the top insulator is disposed between an inner surface of the cap plate 40 and the electrode assembly 10 for electrical insulation therebetween.
- the case 30 sets a space for accommodating a plate-shaped electrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte solution.
- the case 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a quadrangular-shaped opening 31 is provided at one side thereof through which the electrode assembly 10 is inserted.
- the case 30 and the cap plate 40 may be made of, for example, aluminum, and thus they may be combined to each other and then welded at the opening 31 .
- the cap plate 40 further includes not only terminal holes H 1 and H 2 where the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 , are installed but also a vent hole 41 and an electrolyte injection opening 42 .
- the vent hole 41 is closed and sealed by a vent plate 411 such that an internal pressure that is increased due to a gas generated from the rechargeable battery due to charging and discharging of the electrode assembly 10 can be discharged to the outside.
- the vent plate 411 includes a notch 412 that that induces a rupture.
- the electrolyte injection opening 42 allows the cap plate 40 and the case 30 to be injected with the electrolyte after the cap plate 40 is welded to the case 30 . After injection of the electrolyte solution, the electrolyte injection opening 42 is sealed by a sealing cap 421 .
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrode assembly applied to FIG. 3 .
- the electrode assembly 10 is formed by disposing a first electrode 11 (e.g., a negative electrode) and a second electrode 12 (e.g., a positive electrode) at opposite sides of a separator 13 , which is an electrical insulator.
- a first electrode 11 e.g., a negative electrode
- a second electrode 12 e.g., a positive electrode
- the negative electrode 11 , the separator 13 , and the positive electrode 12 may be spiral-wound. Although it is not illustrated, the negative electrode, the separator, and the positive electrode are stacked such that an electrode assembly can be formed.
- the negative and positive electrodes 11 and 12 respectively include coated regions 111 and 121 , where an active material is coated on a current corrector made of a metal thin film (e.g., Cu, Al foil), and uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 , where the current collector is not coated with an active material and thus is exposed.
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 are disposed at one end of the spiral-wound electrode assembly 10 , while having a distance D within one spiral-winding range WD of the electrode assembly 10 .
- the uncoated region tabs 112 of the negative electrode 11 are disposed at one side (i.e., the left side of FIG. 4 ) in one end (i.e., an upper end of FIG. 4 ) of the spiral-wound electrode assembly 10
- the uncoated region tabs 112 of the positive electrode 12 are disposed at the other side (i.e., the right side of FIG. 4 ) while having the distance D in the same end (i.e., the upper end of FIG. 4 ) of the spiral-wound electrode assembly 10 .
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 are provided for every spiral winding of the electrode assembly 10 to enable a charge/discharge current to flow, and accordingly, the entire resistance of the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 is reduced.
- the electrode assembly 10 may charge and discharge a high-capacity current through the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 .
- the electrode assembly 10 is formed of two assemblies. Although it is not illustrated, the electrode assembly may be formed of three or four assemblies. That is, the electrode assembly 10 includes a first assembly 101 and a second assembly 102 that are disposed in parallel with each other in a width direction (i.e., x-axis direction).
- first and second assemblies 101 and 102 may each be formed in the shape of a plate that forms a semicircle at opposite ends in the y-axis direction such that they can be received in the case 30 having the rectangular parallelepiped shape.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the electrode terminals and the overcharge safety device are connected to the electrode assembly of FIG. 4 .
- the electrode assembly 10 that is, the first and second assemblies 101 and 102 , are electrically connected in parallel by being arranged side by side.
- the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 are respectively provided in the terminal holes H 1 and H 2 of the cap plate 40 by using an insert molding method.
- the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 are electrically connected with the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 while being electrically insulated from the cap plate 40 by molding resin members 61 and 62 (refer to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 ).
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 connect the first and second assemblies 101 and 102 to the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 .
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 may be formed of a plurality of groups.
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 form areas that are set in a direction in which a plane (i.e., a y-z plane) of the electrode 10 extends, while disposing the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 therebetween in the width direction (i.e., the x-axis direction) of the cap plate 40 , and then bonded to side surfaces of the first and second electrode assemblies 51 and 52 .
- a plane i.e., a y-z plane
- the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 form areas that correspond to the areas of the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 such that the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 are plane-bonded with the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 .
- the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 extend while having widths that correspond to widths of the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 , and may be ultrasonic-welded to the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 .
- the uncoated region tabs 112 and 122 include first tab groups G 11 and G 21 and second tab groups G 12 and G 22 .
- the first tab groups G 11 and G 21 are respectively connected to the negative and positive electrodes 11 and 12 of the first assembly 101 and thus connected to the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52
- the second tab groups G 12 and G 22 are respectively connected to the negative and positive electrodes 11 and 12 of the second electrode assembly 102 and thus connected to the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 .
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the overcharge safety device applied to FIG. 5 .
- the overcharge safety device 20 includes a first short-circuit member 21 and a second short-circuit member 22 that are connected to the first electrode terminal 51 and the second electrode terminal 52 in the cap plate 40 , and a tube 23 that receives a first free end 211 and a second free end 221 that are respectively formed at one end of each of the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 .
- the first free end 211 and the second free end 221 maintain a separated state in the tube 23 .
- the internal pressure and an internal temperature are increased and thus the tube 23 contracts such that the first free end 211 and the second free end 221 in the separated state contact each other (i.e., are electrically short-circuited) in the tube 23 .
- FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 6
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 6 , taken along the line VIII-VIII.
- the overcharge safety device 20 further includes holders 24 and 25 that are combined to opposite ends of the tube 23 to fix and seal the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 that extend toward the inside of the tube 23 .
- the holders 24 and 25 fix and seal first and second fixing portions 212 and 222 of the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 at predetermined locations from the first and second free ends 211 and 221 . That is, portions of the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 , contacting the holders 24 and 25 , are referred to as the first and second fixing portions 212 and 222 .
- the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 respectively have predetermined widths W, thicknesses t, and lengths L.
- the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 having the width W that is larger than the thickness t are bent between the holder 24 and the first electrode terminal 51 and between the holder 25 and the second electrode terminal 52 , and are connected to the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 through wide areas of first and second connection end portions 213 and 223 .
- the first and second free ends 211 and 221 are disposed, while opposing each other with a gap G therebetween, in a direction (i.e., z-axis direction) that crosses a plane of the cap plate 40 in the case 30 , and the first and second connection end portions 213 and 223 are connected to the first and second electrode terminal 51 and 52 in a manner of surface-contact in a width direction (i.e., x-axis direction) of the cap plate 40 .
- the first and second free ends 211 and 221 are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact with each other with the width W, and the width W is the same size as fixed widths of the first and second fixing portions 212 and 222 that are fixed to the holders 24 and 25 . That is, the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 have the same width W and the same thickness t.
- FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 8 , in an activated state
- FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 , taken along the line X-X.
- the tube 23 is formed of a chemical resistant material which is not damaged by the electrolyte solution.
- the tube 23 excludes the electrolyte solution, and maintains a low pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure or maintains a vacuum state, to thereby allow the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 to be smoothly bent and enable contact operation.
- the tube 23 may be provided as a compression tube.
- the compression tube may contract with an internal pressure increase P due to the gas generated from the internal space formed by the cap plate 40 and the case 30 .
- the first free end 211 and the second free end 221 are pressed in the compression tube, which is the tube 23 , by contraction of the tube 23 and thus they may contact each other.
- the tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 211 and 221 , which are formed flat and have the width W, while being bent to have a curved surface according to the internal pressure increase P such that the opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 211 and 221 surface-contact each other at a center of the tube 23 .
- the first and second electrode terminals 51 and 52 connected to the first and second short-circuit members 21 and 22 and the negative and positive electrodes 11 and 12 of the electrode assembly 10 are short-circuited. Accordingly, a current charged in the electrode assembly 10 is discharged.
- the second electrode terminal 52 further includes a fuse F formed between the uncoated region tab 122 and the second short-circuit member 22 .
- the second electrode terminal 52 is connected to the uncoated region tab 122 of the positive electrode 12 through an inner end thereof, and is connected to the second short-circuit member 22 at an upper portion of the uncoated region tab 122 .
- the fuse may be provided in the first electrode terminal, or in the first and second electrode terminals.
- the high-capacity current charged in the electrode assembly 10 is discharged while the first free end 221 and the second free end 221 contact each other, and resistance is increased and high heat is generated in a discharge line, thereby activating the fuse G.
- the fuse F is activated, the positive electrode 12 of the electrode assembly 10 and the second electrode terminal 52 are electrically disconnected.
- the overcharge safety device 20 Since the overcharge safety device 20 is manufactured separately from other parts of the cell and is mounted inside the cell, the overcharge safety device 20 is not affected by the manufacturing process of the cell and does not have operating scatter when the cell is overcharged. Thus, the overcharge safety device 20 can safely block a current of the cell without causing quality scatter in the rechargeable battery.
- the tube 23 may be provided as a heat-shrink tube.
- the heat-shrink tube may contract due to an internal heat increase generated from the internal space formed by the cap plate 40 and the case 30 . According to the contraction of the heat-shrink tube, that is, the tube 23 , the first free end 211 , and the second free end 221 are pressed and thus contact each other in the tube 23 .
- the tube 23 may be provided as a compression/heating tube.
- the compression/heat-shrink tube may contract due to an internal pressure increase and an internal heat increase caused by a gas generated from an inner space set by the cap plate 40 and the case 30 upon discharge. According to the compression/heat contraction of the compress/heating tube, that is, the tube 23 , the first free end 211 and the second free end 221 may be pressed and thus contact each other in the tube 23 .
- FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a second exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 11
- FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 11 , taken along the line XIII-XIII.
- first and second free ends 711 and 721 of first and second short-circuit members 71 and 72 have first widths W 1 , which surface-contact each other when activated upon overcharge.
- the first width W 1 is larger than a second width W 2 of first and second fixing portions 712 and 722 that are fixed to holders 24 and 25 . That is, the first free end 711 and the second free end 722 of the first short-circuit member 71 and the second short-circuit member 72 are formed with wider widths (i.e., W 1 >W 2 ) than the first fixing portion 712 and the second fixing portion 722 .
- a tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 having the first width W while being bent as an internal pressure P is increased, such that opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 contact each other at a center of the tube 23 . That is, the first free end 711 and the second free end 721 surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length L 1 and the first width W 1 .
- the first and second fixing portions 712 and 722 of the first and second short-circuit members 71 and 72 are fixed to the holders 24 and 25 with the second width W 2 .
- the second width W 2 is the same as the width W of the first exemplary embodiment
- the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment form a larger contact area that the contact area of the first and second free ends 211 and 221 of the first exemplary embodiment.
- contact-resistance of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment may be more reduced.
- a high-capacity current charged in the electrode assembly 10 more easily discharged compared to the first exemplary embodiment, and thus a fuse can be activated.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device of FIG. 14
- FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 14 , taken along the line XVI-XVI.
- first and second free ends 811 and 821 of first and second short-circuit members 81 and 82 have first widths W 3 , which curve-contact each other when activated upon overcharge.
- the first and second free ends 811 and 821 are in curved contact with an area set by a predetermined length and the third width W 3 .
- First and second fixing portions 812 and 822 are connected to the first and second curved free ends 811 and 821 in a planar manner, and are fixed to holders 24 and 25 with a third width W 4 .
- a tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 formed with curves and having the first width W 3 while being bent as an internal pressure P is increased, such that opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 contact each other at a center of the tube 23 .
- the tube 23 effectively presses (P 2 ) external surfaces of the curved first and second free ends 811 and 821 .
- the effective pressure (P 2 ) enables the first and second free ends 811 and 821 to surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length L 3 and the first width W 3 . That is, the first and second fixing portions 812 and 822 of the first and second short-circuit members 81 and 82 are fixed to holders 24 and 25 .
- the second width W 2 is the same as the second width W 2 of the second exemplary embodiment
- the first and second free ends 811 and 821 of the third exemplary embodiment form a larger contact area than the contact area of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment.
- contact resistance of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 of the third exemplary embodiment may be more reduced than contact resistance of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, a high-capacity current charged in the electrode assembly 10 can be more easily discharged than in the second exemplary embodiment, and a fuse can be activated.
- electrode assembly 11 first electrode (negative electrode) 12: second electrode (positive electrode) 13: separator 20, 70, 80: overcharge safety device 21, 71, 81: first short-circuit member 22, 72, 82: second short-circuit member 23: tube 24, 25: holder 30: case 31: opening 40: cap plate 41: vent hole 42: electrolyte injection opening 51, 52: first, second electrode terminal 61, 62: molding resin member 101, 102: first, second assembly 111, 121: coated region 112, 122: uncoated region tab 211, 711, 811: first free end 212, 712, 812: first fixing portion 213, 223: first, second connection end portion 221, 721, 821: second free end 222, 722, 822: second fixing portion 411: vent plate 412: notch 421: sealing cap D: distance F: fuse G: gap G11, G21: first tab group G12, G22: second tab group H1, H2: terminal hole L, L1, L3: length P:
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a rechargeable battery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a rechargeable battery in which an overcharge safety device is activated in an overcharge state in an internal space of a cell.
- A rechargeable battery is a battery that repeatedly performs charging and discharging, differently from a primary battery. A rechargeable battery with small capacity is used in a small portable electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a notebook computer, and a camcorder, and a rechargeable battery with large capacity may be used as a motor driving power source for a hybrid vehicle and an electric vehicle.
- For example, rechargeable batteries include an electrode assembly for charging and discharging, a case accommodating the electrode assembly and an electrolyte solution, a cap plate coupled to the opening of the case, and an electrode terminal that electrically connects the electrode assembly to draw out the electrode assembly to the outside of the cap plate.
- In addition, the rechargeable battery includes an overcharge safety device for overcharge control. The overcharge safety device includes a short-circuit tab and a short-circuit member that is separated or short-circuited according to an internal pressure. The short-circuit tab is electrically connected to a negative electrode, and the short-circuit member is electrically connected to a positive electrode.
- When a cell is overcharged, the short-circuit member is inverted and thus contact the short-circuit tab, thereby causing discharge of a current charged in the electrode assembly. In this case, an inversion shape of the short-circuit member may not be constant. Accordingly, contact area scatter occurs from a contact surface of the short-circuit member and the short-circuit tab, thereby causing generation of resistance scatter from the contact surface. That is, the overcharge safety device cannot effectively control overcharge of the rechargeable battery, thereby generating quality scatter.
- An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been made in an effort to provide a rechargeable battery that can block a current of a cell without causing quality scatter by removing operating scatter of the overcharge safety device upon occurrence of overcharge in the cell. In addition, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a rechargeable battery that includes an overcharge safety device that is not influenced by a cell manufacturing process and does not cause operating scatter.
- An overcharge safety device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: an electrode assembly in which a first electrode and a second electrode are disposed at opposite sides of a separator; a case in which the electrode assembly is accommodated; a cap plate that is combined to an opening of the case; a first electrode terminal and a second electrode terminal that are provided in terminal holes of the cap plate and respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; and an overcharge safety device in which a first free end and a second free end of a first short-circuit member and a second short-circuit member that are respectively connected to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal in the cap plane are disposed apart from each other and received in a tube.
- The overcharge safety device may further include holders that seal a first fixing portion and a second fixing portion at predetermined locations from the first free end and the second free end in the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member that are combined to opposite ends of the tube and extend to the inside of the tube.
- The tube may be provided as a compression tube that contracts by an internal pressure increase due to a gas generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- The tube may be provided as a heat-shrink tube that contracts by an internal heat increase generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- The tube may be provided as a compression/heat-shrink tube that contracts by an internal pressure increase and an internal heat increase due to a gas generated from an internal space set by the cap plate and the case upon overcharge such that the first free end and the second free end contact each other.
- The first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member may extend to a predetermined length with a width and a thickness.
- The first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member may be bent between the holder and the first electrode terminal and between the holder and the second electrode terminal, and may be connected to the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal through a wide area of a first connection end portion and a wide area of a second connection end portion.
- The first free end and the second free end may be disposed opposing each other at a distance from each other in a direction that crosses a plane of the cap plate in the case, and the first connection end portion and the second connection end portion may be connected with the first electrode terminal and the second electrode terminal in a surface-contact manner in a width direction of the cap plate in the case.
- When the first free end and the second free end that are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact each other may have the same width as a fixing width of the first fixing portion and a fixing width of the second fixing portion that are fixed to the holders.
- The first free end and the second free end that are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact each other may have a first width W1 that is larger than a second width W2 of the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion fixed to the holders.
- The first free end and the second free end may surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length and the first width.
- The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be fixed to the holders with the second width.
- The first free end and the second free end may curve-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length and the first width.
- The first fixing portion and the second fixing portion may be connected as planes to the first free end and the second free end, which are curved, and fixed to the holders with the second width.
- The second electrode terminal may be connected to an uncoated region tab of the second electrode through an inner side end thereof and is connected to the second short-circuit member at an upper portion of the uncoated region tab, and the second electrode terminal may further include a fuse that is formed between the uncoated region tab and the second short-circuit member.
- As described above, according the one embodiment of the present invention, since the overcharge safety device formed inside the tube that contracts the first short-circuit member and the second short-circuit member which are separated from each other is provided inside the cap plate, and thus operating scatter of the overcharge safety device can be removed and a current of a cell can be blocked without quality scatter upon overcharge.
- The overcharge safety device according to the exemplary embodiment can be separately manufactured from the cell and is connected with the first and second electrode terminals inside the cap plate, and thus the device is not influenced by a manufacturing process of the cell, and a current of the cell can be blocked without causing operating scatter upon overcharge.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 1 , taken along the line III-III. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an electrode assembly applied toFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view in a state that an electrode terminal and an overcharge safety device are connected to the electrode assembly ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied toFIG. 5 . -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 6 . -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 6 , taken along the line VIII-VIII. -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an overcharge safety device ofFIG. 8 , in an activated state. -
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 9 , taken along the line X-X. -
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a second exemplary embodiment. -
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 11 . -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 11 , taken along the line XIII-XIII. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 14 . -
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 14 , taken along the line XVI-XVI. - Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
- The drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification.
- Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, when it is described that an element is “coupled” to another element, the element may be “directly coupled” to the other element or “electrically coupled” to the other element through a third element. In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word “comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements.
- It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film, region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. Throughout the specification, the word “on” means positioning on or below the object portion, but does not essentially mean positioning on the upper side of the object portion based on a gravitational direction.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rechargeable battery according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II, andFIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 1 , taken along the line III-IIII. - Referring to
FIG. 1 toFIG. 3 , a rechargeable battery according to the first exemplary embodiment includes anelectrode assembly 10 that charges and discharges a current, acase 30 in which theelectrode assembly 10 and an electrolyte solution are embedded, acap plate 40 that is combined to anopening 31 of thecase 30 to close and seal the opening 31, first andsecond electrode terminals electrode assembly 10 and thus installed in thecap plate 40, and anovercharge safety device 20 that is activated when there is an overcharge. - Although it is not illustrated, the rechargeable battery may further include a top insulator that is formed of an electric insulating material. The top insulator is disposed between an inner surface of the
cap plate 40 and theelectrode assembly 10 for electrical insulation therebetween. - The
case 30 sets a space for accommodating a plate-shapedelectrode assembly 10 and the electrolyte solution. For example, thecase 30 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a quadrangular-shapedopening 31 is provided at one side thereof through which theelectrode assembly 10 is inserted. Thecase 30 and thecap plate 40 may be made of, for example, aluminum, and thus they may be combined to each other and then welded at theopening 31. - The
cap plate 40 further includes not only terminal holes H1 and H2 where the first andsecond electrode terminals vent hole 41 and anelectrolyte injection opening 42. Thevent hole 41 is closed and sealed by avent plate 411 such that an internal pressure that is increased due to a gas generated from the rechargeable battery due to charging and discharging of theelectrode assembly 10 can be discharged to the outside. Thevent plate 411 includes anotch 412 that that induces a rupture. - The electrolyte injection opening 42 allows the
cap plate 40 and thecase 30 to be injected with the electrolyte after thecap plate 40 is welded to thecase 30. After injection of the electrolyte solution, the electrolyte injection opening 42 is sealed by a sealingcap 421. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the electrode assembly applied toFIG. 3 . Referring toFIG. 2 toFIG. 4 , theelectrode assembly 10 is formed by disposing a first electrode 11 (e.g., a negative electrode) and a second electrode 12 (e.g., a positive electrode) at opposite sides of aseparator 13, which is an electrical insulator. - For example, the
negative electrode 11, theseparator 13, and thepositive electrode 12 may be spiral-wound. Although it is not illustrated, the negative electrode, the separator, and the positive electrode are stacked such that an electrode assembly can be formed. - The negative and
positive electrodes coated regions uncoated region tabs uncoated region tabs wound electrode assembly 10, while having a distance D within one spiral-winding range WD of theelectrode assembly 10. - That is, the
uncoated region tabs 112 of thenegative electrode 11 are disposed at one side (i.e., the left side ofFIG. 4 ) in one end (i.e., an upper end ofFIG. 4 ) of the spiral-wound electrode assembly 10, and theuncoated region tabs 112 of thepositive electrode 12 are disposed at the other side (i.e., the right side ofFIG. 4 ) while having the distance D in the same end (i.e., the upper end ofFIG. 4 ) of the spiral-wound electrode assembly 10. - The
uncoated region tabs electrode assembly 10 to enable a charge/discharge current to flow, and accordingly, the entire resistance of theuncoated region tabs electrode assembly 10 may charge and discharge a high-capacity current through theuncoated region tabs - In the first exemplary embodiment, the
electrode assembly 10 is formed of two assemblies. Although it is not illustrated, the electrode assembly may be formed of three or four assemblies. That is, theelectrode assembly 10 includes afirst assembly 101 and asecond assembly 102 that are disposed in parallel with each other in a width direction (i.e., x-axis direction). - In addition, the first and
second assemblies case 30 having the rectangular parallelepiped shape. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the electrode terminals and the overcharge safety device are connected to the electrode assembly ofFIG. 4 . Referring toFIG. 3 toFIG. 5 , theelectrode assembly 10, that is, the first andsecond assemblies - For example, the first and
second electrode terminals cap plate 40 by using an insert molding method. Thus, the first andsecond electrode terminals uncoated region tabs cap plate 40 by moldingresin members 61 and 62 (refer toFIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 5 ). - That is, the
uncoated region tabs second assemblies second electrode terminals uncoated region tabs - The
uncoated region tabs electrode 10 extends, while disposing the first andsecond electrode terminals cap plate 40, and then bonded to side surfaces of the first andsecond electrode assemblies - In this case, the first and
second electrode terminals uncoated region tabs second electrode terminals uncoated region tabs second electrode terminals uncoated region tabs uncoated region tabs - In the first exemplary embodiment, the
uncoated region tabs positive electrodes first assembly 101 and thus connected to the first andsecond electrode terminals positive electrodes second electrode assembly 102 and thus connected to the first andsecond electrode terminals -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the overcharge safety device applied toFIG. 5 . Referring toFIG. 2 ,FIG. 3 ,FIG. 5 , andFIG. 6 , theovercharge safety device 20 includes a first short-circuit member 21 and a second short-circuit member 22 that are connected to thefirst electrode terminal 51 and thesecond electrode terminal 52 in thecap plate 40, and atube 23 that receives a firstfree end 211 and a secondfree end 221 that are respectively formed at one end of each of the first and second short-circuit members - When cells are normally operated, the first
free end 211 and the secondfree end 221 maintain a separated state in thetube 23. Upon overcharge, the internal pressure and an internal temperature are increased and thus thetube 23 contracts such that the firstfree end 211 and the secondfree end 221 in the separated state contact each other (i.e., are electrically short-circuited) in thetube 23. -
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 6 , andFIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 6 , taken along the line VIII-VIII. Referring toFIG. 6 toFIG. 8 , theovercharge safety device 20 further includesholders tube 23 to fix and seal the first and second short-circuit members tube 23. - The
holders portions circuit members circuit members holders portions - The first and second short-
circuit members circuit members holder 24 and thefirst electrode terminal 51 and between theholder 25 and thesecond electrode terminal 52, and are connected to the first andsecond electrode terminals connection end portions - The first and second free ends 211 and 221 are disposed, while opposing each other with a gap G therebetween, in a direction (i.e., z-axis direction) that crosses a plane of the
cap plate 40 in thecase 30, and the first and secondconnection end portions second electrode terminal cap plate 40. - The first and second free ends 211 and 221 are activated upon overcharge and surface-contact with each other with the width W, and the width W is the same size as fixed widths of the first and second fixing
portions holders circuit members -
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 8 , in an activated state, andFIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 9 , taken along the line X-X. Referring toFIG. 9 andFIG. 10 , thetube 23 is formed of a chemical resistant material which is not damaged by the electrolyte solution. In addition, thetube 23 excludes the electrolyte solution, and maintains a low pressure that is lower than atmospheric pressure or maintains a vacuum state, to thereby allow the first and second short-circuit members - For example, the
tube 23 may be provided as a compression tube. The compression tube may contract with an internal pressure increase P due to the gas generated from the internal space formed by thecap plate 40 and thecase 30. The firstfree end 211 and the secondfree end 221 are pressed in the compression tube, which is thetube 23, by contraction of thetube 23 and thus they may contact each other. - In this case, the
tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 211 and 221, which are formed flat and have the width W, while being bent to have a curved surface according to the internal pressure increase P such that the opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 211 and 221 surface-contact each other at a center of thetube 23. - Upon overcharging, according to the contact of the first and second free ends 211 and 221, the first and
second electrode terminals circuit members positive electrodes electrode assembly 10 are short-circuited. Accordingly, a current charged in theelectrode assembly 10 is discharged. - The
second electrode terminal 52 further includes a fuse F formed between theuncoated region tab 122 and the second short-circuit member 22. Thesecond electrode terminal 52 is connected to theuncoated region tab 122 of thepositive electrode 12 through an inner end thereof, and is connected to the second short-circuit member 22 at an upper portion of theuncoated region tab 122. Although it is not illustrated, the fuse may be provided in the first electrode terminal, or in the first and second electrode terminals. - Thus, upon overcharging, the high-capacity current charged in the
electrode assembly 10 is discharged while the firstfree end 221 and the secondfree end 221 contact each other, and resistance is increased and high heat is generated in a discharge line, thereby activating the fuse G. As the fuse F is activated, thepositive electrode 12 of theelectrode assembly 10 and thesecond electrode terminal 52 are electrically disconnected. - Since the
overcharge safety device 20 is manufactured separately from other parts of the cell and is mounted inside the cell, theovercharge safety device 20 is not affected by the manufacturing process of the cell and does not have operating scatter when the cell is overcharged. Thus, theovercharge safety device 20 can safely block a current of the cell without causing quality scatter in the rechargeable battery. - As another example, the
tube 23 may be provided as a heat-shrink tube. When the cell is overcharged, the heat-shrink tube may contract due to an internal heat increase generated from the internal space formed by thecap plate 40 and thecase 30. According to the contraction of the heat-shrink tube, that is, thetube 23, the firstfree end 211, and the secondfree end 221 are pressed and thus contact each other in thetube 23. - As another example, the
tube 23 may be provided as a compression/heating tube. The compression/heat-shrink tube may contract due to an internal pressure increase and an internal heat increase caused by a gas generated from an inner space set by thecap plate 40 and thecase 30 upon discharge. According to the compression/heat contraction of the compress/heating tube, that is, thetube 23, the firstfree end 211 and the secondfree end 221 may be pressed and thus contact each other in thetube 23. - Hereinafter, various exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described. For convenience of description, description of the same configurations will be omitted and different configurations will be described in comparison with the first and the previously described exemplary embodiments.
-
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a second exemplary embodiment,FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 11 , andFIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 11 , taken along the line XIII-XIII. - Referring to
FIG. 11 toFIG. 13 , in anovercharge safety device 70 applied to the rechargeable battery of the second exemplary embodiment, first and second free ends 711 and 721 of first and second short-circuit members - The first width W1 is larger than a second width W2 of first and second fixing
portions holders free end 711 and the secondfree end 722 of the first short-circuit member 71 and the second short-circuit member 72 are formed with wider widths (i.e., W1>W2) than thefirst fixing portion 712 and thesecond fixing portion 722. - A
tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 having the first width W while being bent as an internal pressure P is increased, such that opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 contact each other at a center of thetube 23. That is, the firstfree end 711 and the secondfree end 721 surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length L1 and the first width W1. - That is, the first and second fixing
portions circuit members holders - That is, compared to the contact resistance of the first and second free ends 221 and 221 of the first exemplary embodiment, contact-resistance of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment may be more reduced. Thus, a high-capacity current charged in the
electrode assembly 10 more easily discharged compared to the first exemplary embodiment, and thus a fuse can be activated. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of an overcharge safety device applied to a rechargeable battery according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view of the overcharge safety device ofFIG. 14 , andFIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view ofFIG. 14 , taken along the line XVI-XVI. - Referring to
FIG. 14 toFIG. 16 , in anovercharge safety device 80 applied to a rechargeable battery of the third exemplary embodiment, first and second free ends 811 and 821 of first and second short-circuit members portions holders - A
tube 23 presses top and bottom surfaces of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 formed with curves and having the first width W3 while being bent as an internal pressure P is increased, such that opposite surfaces of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 contact each other at a center of thetube 23. - That is, the
tube 23 effectively presses (P2) external surfaces of the curved first and second free ends 811 and 821. The effective pressure (P2) enables the first and second free ends 811 and 821 to surface-contact each other with an area having a predetermined length L3 and the first width W3. That is, the first and second fixingportions circuit members holders - That is, contact resistance of the first and second free ends 811 and 821 of the third exemplary embodiment may be more reduced than contact resistance of the first and second free ends 711 and 721 of the second exemplary embodiment. Accordingly, a high-capacity current charged in the
electrode assembly 10 can be more easily discharged than in the second exemplary embodiment, and a fuse can be activated. - While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
-
-Description of symbols- 10: electrode assembly 11: first electrode (negative electrode) 12: second electrode (positive electrode) 13: separator 20, 70, 80: overcharge safety device 21, 71, 81: first short- circuit member 22, 72, 82: second short-circuit member 23: tube 24, 25: holder 30: case 31: opening 40: cap plate 41: vent hole 42: electrolyte injection opening 51, 52: first, second electrode terminal 61, 62: molding resin member 101, 102: first, second assembly 111, 121: coated region 112, 122: uncoated region tab 211, 711, 811: first free end 212, 712, 812: first fixing portion 213, 223: first, second connection end portion 221, 721, 821: second free end 222, 722, 822: second fixing portion 411: vent plate 412: notch 421: sealing cap D: distance F: fuse G: gap G11, G21: first tab group G12, G22: second tab group H1, H2: terminal hole L, L1, L3: length P: internal pressure increase, pressure t: thickness W: width W1, W3: first width W2, W4: second width WD: one spiral- winding range
Claims (15)
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KR10-2016-0137737 | 2016-10-21 | ||
KR1020160137737A KR102325844B1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2016-10-21 | Rechargeable battery |
PCT/KR2017/011540 WO2018074846A1 (en) | 2016-10-21 | 2017-10-18 | Secondary battery |
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US20200058919A1 true US20200058919A1 (en) | 2020-02-20 |
US11075433B2 US11075433B2 (en) | 2021-07-27 |
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US10770696B2 (en) * | 2017-07-20 | 2020-09-08 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited | Top cover assembly of secondary battery and secondary battery |
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CN113410582B (en) * | 2021-06-17 | 2022-04-12 | 合肥国轩高科动力能源有限公司 | High-voltage safety protection device for battery pack |
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- 2016-10-21 KR KR1020160137737A patent/KR102325844B1/en active IP Right Grant
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2017
- 2017-10-18 WO PCT/KR2017/011540 patent/WO2018074846A1/en active Application Filing
- 2017-10-18 US US16/343,674 patent/US11075433B2/en active Active
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US10770696B2 (en) * | 2017-07-20 | 2020-09-08 | Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited | Top cover assembly of secondary battery and secondary battery |
Also Published As
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WO2018074846A1 (en) | 2018-04-26 |
KR20180044089A (en) | 2018-05-02 |
KR102325844B1 (en) | 2021-11-11 |
US11075433B2 (en) | 2021-07-27 |
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